Foldable table and bench combination



June 16, 1953 c, BORNS 2,642,123

I FQLDABLE TABLE AND BENCH COMBINATION Filed Sept. 10, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l [lllllllllllllfllllllllli 'fllllflllllllllllllllllllllllll 1m.

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ATTORNEY June 16, 1953 M, ,.B RNs-' 2, 42,123

FOLDABLE TABLE AND-BENCH COMBINATION Filed Sept. 10, 1949 2 sneets sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNE) Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE FOLDABLE TABLE AND BENCH COMBINATION Millard C. Borns, Muskegon, Mich. Application September 10, 1949, Serial No. 115,067

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a foldable table and bench combination referably made of wood or other light material, which can be easily and quickly set up for use and/or disassembledrand folded in a compact bundle that can be readily carried either inside an automobile or on the roof V thence easily set up.

Another object of the invention is to design a combination table and bench structure in which the edges of the benches fit and are accommodated in suitable grooves in the table, thus securing them in assembled relation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a table and'bench combination of the type described which is of suflicient size to seat and accommodate a group of people of the size of the average family, without sacrificing any of its compactness and easy transportability.

A further object of my invention is to provide a portable table and bench combination which can .be easily and economically manufactured and assembled, and which is designed so as to be readily mounted on an automobile carrier for transportation.

Still a further object of my invention i to provide a collapsible table and bench combination which can be readily assembled and disassembled, and in which the benches and table are easily and simply secured in compact and transportable relation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a table and bench structure in which the table legs are extensible so that they can be adjusted and secured at many lengths within a desirable range. 7

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully des.cr ibed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and arrangement of parts, without departthe table only with one of the legs in raised position, the broken lines'indicating an adjusted position of the extensible portion of the leg.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the benches and table set up for use.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectioned, elevational View through one of the sides of the inverted structure, illustrating the manner in whichthe table and benches are secured together in transportable relation.

Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectioned view through the inverted assembled table and bench combination.

Fig. 6 is a perspectiveplan view showing the benches secured together for assembly with the table.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the letter T indicates the foldable table structure and comprises a fiat top section It] formed with a rim section l l andfoldable legs l2 are hingedly connected thereto by means of hinges l 3, knife braces 14 being secured to the lower face of the table and to the legs respectively, for holding the legs in extended position, and slotted openings [5 are provided in the legs to accommodate the knife hinges It When the legs are in folded position. A cross strip I6 spans the lower face of the table as shown and forms a division and reinforcement for the table, the top of the strip being substantially flush with the face of the leg structure when they are in folded position.

The legs 12 .include side members I! and a flat veneer strip I8 is secured to and spans said members, a foot extension F being slidably secured to the leg I2 and comprises a horizontally disposed strip with depending legs 20 secured thereto and disposed in edge-to-edge relationship with the edges of the members H, and conventional spring stops S are mounted in the legs 20 for engagement with the legs 12 to secure the foot extension in adjusted position and as clearly shown'in broken lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and I wish to direct particular attention to the fact that the legs I2 are of less width than the distance between the rim sections ll so that a groove or channel C is provided around the rim of the table on its lower face and for a purpose to be presently described.

Individual benches B are provided for use with the foldable table and are formedas clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings, these benches comprising a seat section 2| having legs 22 secured thereto in any approved manner, each bench having corner braces 23 and the ends of the seat section are shouldered as at 24, the edges of the legs being spaced from the edge of the seat as shown, and laterally projecting strips L are provided on the seat and overlap the edges of the legs when the structure is folded.

When assembling the table and benches for travel, the edges of the seats and the legs of the benches are placed in thegrooves or channel C, and the legs of the benches are detachably secured together by hooks and screw-eyes 25 and 26 respectively so that there can be no sway or side movement of the assembled benches with relation to the table.

In addition to the securing means above referred to, similar hooks and screw-eyes 21 and 28 are provided on the table legs and bench legs respectively, thus securing the assembly firmly in position.

When the assembly is completed, the structure 4 can be loaded on an automobile carrier (not shown) as the rim sections H provide ample securing area, or it can be placed in the vehicle or on a trailer if desired.

To set up, it is merely necessary to unhook the hooks 25 and 26; lift the benches free; then swing the legs l2 upwardly and extend the foot extensions as desired; turn the table right side .up, and it is then ready for use.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, practical and convenient table and bench structure that can be readily opened and folded, which folds into a compact bundle and that is readily transportable to any desired location.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a table, including a top and a pair of leg structures, of a pair of benches in assembled relation with said table to form a compact, transportation unit; said table top having a rim member arranged to project from the edges of the table top and form with a surface of said top a receptacle, said leg structures being in overlying relation to said surface and forming therewith and with said rim a groove of uniform cross-section having a portion adjacent to and parallel to each edge of the table top, said leg structures being hinged to said surface to swing from said overlying relation to extend into substantial parallelism to support said which said benches are oppositely disposed with their corresponding legs in end to end abutting relation, and releasable means provided on said legs to secure said corresponding legs together.

3. The combination with a table including a top and a pair of leg structures, of a pair of benches in assembled relation with said table to form a compact transportation unit; said table top having a rim member arranged to project from the edges of the table top and form with the surface of said top a receptacle, said leg structures being in overlying relation to said surface and forming therewith and with said rim a groove having a portion adjacent to and parallel to each edge of the table top, said leg structures being hinged to said surface to swing from said overlying relation to extend into substantial parallelism to support said table top from the ground; said benches each including a seat and a pair of parallel legs, the corresponding edges of said seats and legs being removably received in'portions of said groove, means carried by said benches engaging the leg structures of said table and holding said structures in said overlying relation, and cooperating means on said table leg structures and said bench legs detachably holding said table and said benches in said assembled relation.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which an extensible foot section is provided on each table leg structure, and means for secur ing said foot section in extended and retracted position.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3 in which the seats on said benches having portions extending beyond said legs at both ends and the extending portions are shouldered at both corners, the extending portions projecting over and bearing on the lower edge of said rim.

6. The combination with a table, including a top and a pair of extensible leg structures, of a pair of benches in assembled relation with said table to form a compact, transportation unit,

said table top having a rim member onits lower face arranged to project from the edges of the table top and form with a surface of said top a receptacle, said leg structures overlying said surface and being spaced from the adjacent portions of said rim, to form with said rim and with said surface a groove having a portion adjacent to and parallel to each edge of the table top, said leg structures being hinged to said surface a spaced distance from the adjacent portions of said rim to support said table top from the ground, said benches each including a seat and a pair of parallel legs, the corresponding edges of said seats and legs being removably received said bench legs for detachably holding said table and said benches in said assembled relation.

MILLARD C. BORNS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 789,364 'Gauvin May 9, 1905 2,385,458 7 Naon Sept. 25, 1945 V FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Australia May 1, 1934 

